United Nations Security Council Resolution 2261 – Identical letters dated 19 January 2016 from the Permanent Representative of Colombia to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council
Resolution 2261 (2016)
The Security Council,
Underlining its full commitment to the Peace Process in the Republic of Colombia and its support for the “General Agreement to End the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace”, signed in Havana, Cuba, on 26 August 2012, between the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia — People’s Army (FARC-EP),
Welcoming the progress in the negotiation process, the commitment of the Government of Colombia and the FARC-EP to reach a swift end to the armed conflict, and the confidence-building measures implemented in order to provide the first dividends of the peace process to the Colombian people,
Acknowledging the request made by the Government of Colombia, through the letter dated 19 January 2016 from the President of Colombia addressed to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council of the United Nations (S/2016/53), which encloses the Joint Communiqué between the Government of Colombia and the FARC-EP,
Noting that the Government of Colombia and the FARC-EP foresee that the Final Peace Agreement will include a tripartite mechanism to monitor and verify the definitive bilateral ceasefire and cessation of hostilities, and the laying down of arms; and recognising the contribution that a United Nations observer mission can make in the context of the tripartite mechanism,
Recognising further that the request made through the Government of Colombia refers to the participation of the United Nations as the international component of the above-mentioned tripartite mechanism for a limited period,
Recognising further the vital role played by the Republic of Cuba and the Kingdom of Norway as guarantors, and by the Republic of Chile and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela as accompanying countries of the Peace Process in Colombia,
Reaffirming the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and reaffirming further the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and unity of Colombia,
Recognising Colombia’s ownership of the implementation of the Final Peace Agreement,
- Decides to establish a political mission to participate for a period of 12 months, as the international component and coordinator of the above -mentioned tripartite mechanism (the Mission), headed by a special representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations;
2. Decides further that the Mission will be a political mission of unarmed international observers, responsible for the monitoring and verification of the laying down of arms, and a part of the tripartite mechanism that will monitor and verify the definitive bilateral ceasefire and cessation of hostilities, consistent with the Joint Communiqué, beginning all monitoring and verification activities, which will commence the 12 month period, following the signing of the Final Peace Agreement between the Government of Colombia and the FARC-EP;
3. Requests the Secretary-General to initiate preparations now, including on the ground, and to present detailed recommendations to the Security Council for its consideration and approval regarding the size and operational aspects and mandate of the Mission, consistent with the Joint Communiqué, as soon as possible and then within 30 days of the signature of the ceasefire agreement by the Government of Colombia and the FARC-EP, in light of its provisions;
4. Looks forward to the contributions of Member States of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) to the Mission;
5. Further requests the Secretary-General, based on the reporting of the special representative to the Secretary-General, to report to the Security Council on the implementation of the Mission’s mandate every 90 days after the start of its monitoring and verification activities and on completion of the Mission;
6. Expresses its willingness to consider extending the Mission upon the joint request of the Government of Colombia and the FARC-EP.
Adopted by the Security Council at its 7609th meeting, on 25 January 2016.
